Expandable camper shell for a pickup truck

ABSTRACT

An expandable camper shell for a pickup truck which includes a cover that is to be movable from a lower position to a raised position with the cover assuming a tilted configuration relative to the bed of the pickup truck. When in the maximum raised position additional head room is provided for any individuals located within the internal compartment located between the cover and the bed. When the cover is in the maximum raised position, there is provided a gap area with this gap area to be closable by a removable, double-thickness, fabric, insert assembly. A shock strut assembly is mounted between the cover and the bed that will maintain the cover in the maximum raised position after it is manually raised.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a camper shell for a pickup truck bedwhere the camper shell can be moved from a lower position, which assumesa low profile during times that the pickup truck is being driven, to amaximum raised position which provides for additional head room forindividuals located within the internal compartment of the bed of thetruck.

2. Description of the Related Art

Many individuals, when camping, prefer a pickup truck mounted camper asopposed to a tent or a trailer that is hauled by a truck. Typically,camper shells are constructed of a hard cover that encloses the internalcompartment of the bed of the pickup truck. When the pickup truck isbeing driven, it is desirable to have the camper shell to assume a lowprofile and not extend any height above the cab of the pickup truck. Thereason for this is for improved aerodynamics and to significantlyimprove fuel mileage of the pickup truck. However, when the camper shellis being used when the pickup truck is at rest, there is provided only alimited amount of head room for the occupant or occupants of theinternal compartment between the camper shell and the bed of the pickuptruck.

In the past, it has been known to increase the head room of a campershell in conjunction with a pickup truck. It has been known to raise thecamper shell in some manner relative to the bed of the pickup truck withgenerally these types of shell raising structures being quitecomplicated and therefore inherently expensive. It has also been knownto incorporate some type of mechanism that raises just one end of thecamper shell with the camper shell assuming a tilted position relativeto the bed of the pickup truck. These type of space increasingmechanisms have proved to be most desirable as they normally can beconstructed to be less complicated and less expensive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The first embodiment of the present invention relates to an expandablecamper shell for a pickup truck which utilizes a sheet material coverwhich is mounted over the internal compartment of the bed of the pickuptruck. This cover is pivotally movable by a hinge joint which is locatedat the tailgate portion of the bed of the pickup truck. The front edgeof the cover has mounted thereon at least one shock strut which isconnected between the cover and the bed. The function of the shock strutis to permit manual movement of the camper shell to a maximum raisedposition, and when located in the maximum raised position the shockstrut will maintain the camper shell in that maximum raised position.The force of the shock strut can be easily overcome by the applicationof a manual force to lower the camper shell to a lower position whensuch is desired. When the camper shell is in the maximum raisedposition, there is produced a gap between the camper shell and the bedof the truck. A fabric insert assembly is to be removably mounted withinthis gap which is to be used to completely enclose the internalcompartment providing privacy to any occupant or occupants of theinternal compartment.

A further embodiment of the present invention is where the first basicembodiment is modified by there being used two in number of shockstruts.

A further embodiment of the present invention is where the first basicembodiment is modified by the fabric insert assembly being removablymounted by a zipper arrangement to both the cover and the bed of thepickup truck.

A further embodiment of the present invention is where the fabric insertassembly is modified to be formed of double thickness.

A further embodiment of the present invention is where there isincorporated a flexible boot that surrounds the window that is locatedwithin the back wall of the cab of the pickup truck. This flexible bootis mounted on the cover and is movable with the cover. The opening thatis provided by the flexible boot can be closed by a zippered fabricinsert.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a non-complex,expandable camper shell for a pickup truck which can be easily operatedby the most unskilled individual to provide a privacy enclosure whileproviding increased head room when the cover is in the maximum raisedposition.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is to bemade to the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood that thepresent invention is not limited to the precise arrangement shown in thedrawings.

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a pickup truck upon which has beenmounted the expandable camper shell of the present invention showing thecamper shell in a lower position which is the normal position fordriving of the pickup truck;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 1 but showing thecamper shell in the maximum raised position relative to the bed of thepickup truck.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 2 but showing a gaparea that is formed inherently by the raising of the camper shellrelative to the bed of the pickup truck with this gap area havingmounted therein a fabric insert assembly;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4—4 of FIG. 3 showingthe position of the cover relative to the bed of the pickup truck whenit is in its maximum raised position;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 4 showing the positionof the cover relative to the bed of the pickup truck when the cover isin the lower position;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6—6 of FIG. 3 showingthe front portion of the cover when it is in the maximum raised positionshowing the position of the shock struts mounted between the cover andthe bed of the pickup truck;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 but when the cover is in the lowerposition on the bed of the pickup truck; and

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 8—8 of FIG. 6depicting the arrangement in conjunction with the boot that is mountedon the cover.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring particularly to the drawings, there is shown a pickup truck 10which has a passenger cab 12 which has a rear wall 14 located directlyadjacent the bed 16 of the pickup truck 10. The bed 16 includes aninternal compartment 18 which is normally used to haul materials orarticles. Mounted within the rear wall 14 is a window 20. The window 20can normally be slid open by an occupant of the passenger cab 12 inorder to observe and communicate with any individual or individuals thatare located within the internal compartment 18. In order to prevent rainand dust from entering the window 20, there is mounted about window 20 aflexible, normally rubber, boot 22. The boot 22 is mounted on theforward wall 24 of a camper shell cover 26. Boot 22 encloses opening 41through which access to window 20 is to occur. The cover 26 willnormally be constructed of a rigid material with a fiberglass or plasticmaterial being preferred. Mounted within each side of the cover 26 arewindows, such as window 28. The cover 26 forms an interior chamber 30which combines with and forms part of the internal compartment 18.

The cover 26 is attached by hinge joint 32 to the tailgate area 34 ofthe bed 16. When the cover 26 is in the lower position, which is shownin FIG. 1 of the drawings, the flexible boot 22 completely surrounds thewindow 20. The boot 22 presses and flexes against the rear wall 14 ofthe cab 12. Mounted on the boot 22 and located entirely around theopening 36 of the boot 22 is a zipper half 38. A fabric insert 40 isformed of a shape that will just enclose opening 36. The peripheral edgeof the fabric insert 40 includes a second zipper half 42. When thezipper halves 38 and 42 are entirely engaged, the fabric insert 40closes off the opening 36 which prevents entry of rain and dust towithin the interior chamber 30 of the cover 26. It is to be understoodthat the fabric insert 40 can be readily unzipped by the zipper halves38 and 42 in order to remove such when the cover is to be moved to thelower position and the pickup truck driven. The fabric insert 40 isnormally utilized when the cover 26 is in the maximum raised position,which is shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 6 of the drawings.

In FIG. 8, the boot 22 is depicted in relation to the rear wall 14 ofthe cab 12 for explanatory purposes only. Actually, the boot 22 will bedisplaced from the rear wall 14 because the cover 26 is in the maximumraised position, which is clearly shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

Mounted on the forward wall 44 of the bed 16 are a plurality of spacedapart over center latching mechanisms 46, 48 and 50. When the cover 26is in the lower position, the latching mechanism 46 is to connect withlatch plate 52, latching mechanism 48 is to connect with latch plate 54and latching mechanism 50 engages with latch plate 56. These latchingmechanisms 46, 48 and 50 thereby function to secure the cover 26 in thelower position when the pickup truck 10 is being driven. It is to benoted that the latching mechanism 48 and latch plate 54 are located atthe transverse middle of the bed 16, the latching mechanism 46 and latchplate 52 are mounted directly adjacent the left side of the bed 16 andlatching mechanism 50 and latch plate 56 being mounted directly adjacentthe right side of the bed 16. When cover 26 is in lower position,inwardly extending flange 27 rests on upper bed edge 17.

A shock strut 58 has an inner end 60 which is fixedly mounted to the bed16 directly adjacent latching mechanism 48. The shock strut 58 also hasan outer end 62 which is mounted on the cover 26 directly adjacent thelatching plate 52. There is also utilized a shock strut 64 which has aninner end 66 which is fixedly mounted onto the bed 16 directly adjacentthe latching mechanism 48. The shock strut 64 also has an outer end 68which is fixedly mounted onto the cover 26 directly adjacent the latchplate 56. The shock struts 58 and 64 are basically identical and eachcomprise a pair of telescopingly arranged members within which ismounted a spring. The shock struts 58 and 64 always exert a continuousbias tending to extend the struts 58 and 64. The function of the struts58 and 64 is that when the cover 26 is manually raised after thelatching mechanisms 46, 48 and 50 are disengaged from their respectivelatch plates 52, 54 and 56, that immediately after the exerting of aslight manual force tending to raise the cover 26, the force of thesprings and the struts 58 and 64 will assist in this raising movement,and when the cover 26 is in the maximum raised position that the springswithin the struts 58 and 64 will be sufficiently strong enough to holdand maintain the cover 26 in this maximum raised position.

When the cover 26 is in the maximum raised position, as shown in FIG. 2,there is formed a gap area 70. In order to prevent the entry of rain,dust and other foreign material as well as to provide privacy to anyoccupants located within the internal compartment 18, there is to beutilized a fabric insert assembly which is composed of fabric layers 72and 74. The fabric layer 72 has mounted thereon entirely about itsperiphery a zipper half 76. The zipper half 76 is to engage with azipper half 78 which is mounted on both the cover 26 and the bed 16. Thesize of the fabric layer 72 is to be preselected so that when the cover26 is in the maximum open position that the fabric layer 26 willcompletely be located in a taut manner within the width of the gap area70. The fabric layer 74 also includes a zipper half 80 which is toengage with a zipper half 82 which is also mounted on both the cover 26and the bed 16. The fabric layer 74 is located outside of the fabriclayer 72 therefore fabric layer 74 will be slightly longer than fabriclayer 72. Fabric layer 74 also functions to be located in a taut manneracross the width of the gap area 70. The reason that the two fabriclayers 72 and 74 are used is to provide thermal insulation by forming anair space 84 between the fabric layers 72 and 74. Also, the use of thedouble layers 72 and 74 provides a further assurance of non-penetrationof rain within the internal compartment 18. Zipper halves 78 and 82 aremounted on opposite ends connecting members 79 and 81. Connecting member79 is fixedly mounted on inwardly extending flange 27. Connecting member81 is fixedly mounted on upper bed edge 17. Connecting members 79 and 81generally will comprise a fabric.

When the cover 26 is in the lower position with the bed 16, it willnormally be desirable to provide a flap 86 which will cover the joint 88located between the cover 26 and the bed 16. The flap 86 is to bemounted entirely along the entire length of the joint 88. The flap 86will normally be mounted by a plurality of rivets 90 to the cover 26.

It is to be understood that when one wishes to move the cover 26 fromthe maximum raised position to the lower position it is only necessarythat the user merely grab onto the cover 26 and move such depressing ofthe springs within the shock struts 58 and 64 which will then cause thecover 26 to pivot to the lower position with the shock struts 58 and 64being compressed, as is shown in FIG. 7.

What is claimed is:
 1. An expandable camper shell for a pickup truck,said truck having a passenger cab located forward of a bed, said bedterminating in a tailgate located furthest from said cab, said shellcomprising: a sheet material cover mounted on said truck over said bedenclosing an internal compartment located between said bed and saidcover, said cover being pivotally movable by a hinge joint to said bedat said tailgate, said cover having a forward wall located directlyadjacent said cab; at least one shock strut connected between said coverand said bed, said shock strut located at said forward wall, said shockstrut permitting manual raising of said cover at said forward wall froma lower position with pivoting occurring at said hinge joint and whenlocated at a maximum raised position said shock strut will hold saidcover in said maximum raised position, with said cover in said maximumraised position there is produced a gap area between said cover and saidbed; and a fabric insert assembly removably mounted within said gaparea, whereby said fabric insert assembly completely encloses saidinternal compartment.
 2. The expandable camper shell for a pickup truckas defined in claim 1 wherein: there being a second said shock strutconnected between said cover and said bed, each said shock strut beingelongated and having an upper end and a lower end, each said lower endbeing connected to said bed near the transverse middle of said bed, saidupper end of each said strut being mounted to said cover directlyadjacent a side edge of said cover.
 3. The expandable camper shell for apickup truck as defined in claim 1 wherein: said fabric insert assemblybeing connected by a zipper to both said cover and said bed.
 4. Theexpandable camper shell for a pickup truck as defined in claim 1wherein: said fabric insert assembly comprising a pair of layers withthere being an air gap located between said pair of layers.
 5. Theexpandable camper shell for a pickup truck as defined in claim 1wherein: the portion of said cab located directly adjacent said bedincluding a window, said cover including a flexible boot extendingexteriorly of said cover, said flexible boot enclosing a window openingwhich is to surround said window when said cover is in said lowerposition, a window covering fabric insert to be removably secured by azipper to said cover in the area of said boot, said window coveringfabric insert being designed to completely close said window opening. 6.The expandable camper shell for a pickup truck as defined in claim 1wherein: when said cover is in said lower position there being a flapcovering a joint that is produced between said cover and said bed thatis located exteriorly of said cover and said bed, whereby said flapprevents rain from entering into said joint.